The Kings Dethroned

December, 2010

There are some books that are too ambitious for an e-reader. The best illustrated books simply defy the smaller screen-particularly those of coffee-table dimensions and sacred-text heft, with graphics so lush in their presentation and juxtaposi­tions from one page to the next that they translate as poorly electronically as sculpture. Naked: The Nude in America is a perfect example. A voluptuous cultural and art history of the male and female figure in our country from the 18th century to the pre...